Though Golden Valley graduated top-notch thrower Courtney Maduike, senior Samiyah Hawkins has stepped up in a big way in both throwing events.

“If some of the girls can live up to their capabilities and be able to get that best effort on meet day, we think our girls can repeat as champions,” head coach John Quam said.

Saugus

Much like the boys team at Saugus, the girls lost a few big-time athletes to graduation and another to injury.

But there are plenty of others returning who could easily boost Saugus near the top of the league again. The Centurions were second behind Golden Valley last year.

A big reason why is the team’s depth in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. Junior Samantha Ortega returns after her state finals appearance in the 3,200 and fellow junior Sabrina Janes will try to replicate her run to the 800 state final.

Junior Avery Schulhofer is a potential CIF-level sprinter for Saugus and she’ll be joined by Leah Eldridge in some of the sprint relays.

The usually-strong hurdles lineup for Saugus took a hit with the graduation of Monica Allen and the season-ending ankle injury of Jenna Mears, though senior Katie Mohrhoff is filling in nicely.

“It’s going to be interesting with the amount of injuries we have the girls who aren’t coming back,” said Saugus head coach David Russell.

Junior MacKinzie Moncibais has a chance to be Saugus’ biggest point scorer with her abilities in all three jump events and beyond.

Her versatility will be counted on if Saugus is going to be near the top of the league again.

Canyon

Coming off a third-place finish in league, Canyon is more experienced and significantly healthier than it was this time last year.

Cipperley and Bietsch, along with senior Brooke Moore, are strong sprinters while Rodriguez and Danforth are among the league’s top distance runners.

“Saugus won’t have their way with us like they have in the past several years,” said Canyon head coach Paul Broneer of his distance runners.

That group will help to neutralize the sprinting prowess at Golden Valley and the impressive distance group at Saugus.

As for field events, junior Raelyn Abbinanti is near the top of the league in the pole vault, senior Mari Kneisel is moving up in the long jump and junior Dana Bowers also adds to Canyon’s deep group of jumpers.

West Ranch

The season ahead is full of optimism for West Ranch, which returns nearly all of last year’s top competitors.

“We’re young but lots of talent and every strong performer from last year is back,” said West Ranch head coach Steve Welker.

Sophomore Marisa Magsarili is out to defend her league title in the 800 while Taylor Hernandez and Taylor Welker add to the team’s strong distance group.

Taylor Welker is fighting an Achilles injury, but she should be back at full strength in the coming weeks, according to Coach Welker.

In the sprint events, West Ranch has junior Morgan Thornton, senior Adazjia Brent, junior Rachel Smith and freshman Adaugo Oguejifor in what Coach Welker says is “the best 4x100 team in years.

Oguejifor should also be a points-scoring machine in hurdles and jump events, where West Ranch will add depth with freshman Julie Watler in both hurdles events and fellow freshman Maya Ortiz in the high jump.

Valencia

There’s no shortage of great athletes at Valencia this year.

Will there be enough of them to seriously challenge for a team title? That remains to be seen.